NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) – While Eastern Carolina didn’t experience snow like other parts of the state did, the freezing rain in its place is still dangerous.
Icy conditions can cause major accidents like Sunday’s multi-car crash on one of New Bern’s Neuse River Bridge.
NCDOT and Craven County Emergency Services were called around 5:00 a.m. after several cars crashed on the Neuse River bridge, closing it down for almost four hours.
“With everyone saying how bad the weather was going to be today, it’s kind of crazy that people would be out to try and move around in this type of weather,” says New Bern resident Charles Flyn.
Governor Josh Stein gave an update on what’s been seen on North Carolina roads as the winter storm moves across the state.
“The State Highway Patrol is busy clearing the roads. They have removed 339 abandoned cars. They have dealt with over 400 car crashes,” Stein says.
NCDOT says bridges tend to ice over well before other drivable areas, which can create dangerous conditions for drivers, like in New Bern.
Luckily, there were no fatalities from the Neuse River Bridge accident.
Flyn says he thinks things over before deciding if he’ll head out in icy weather.
“We take precautions like everybody should and we just stay home. I mean, why chance it when it’s going to get really bad out,” Flyn says.
NCDOT crews in Craven County have been continuing to treat the roads with brine, hoping to prevent more accidents from happening.
Even though temperatures are slowly warming up, NCDOT and Governor Stein urge drivers to drive with caution, especially at night, as the rain could become black ice as temperatures drop again.
Copyright 2026 WITN. All rights reserved.

source